Mt. SAC's Students of Distinction Awarded

By Robert Bledsoe

June 15, 2020 - 08:04 AM

Each year, Mt. SAC honors the best of the best among its students. Nominated by faculty and staff in four categories, the students being honored will receive a $1,000 scholarship, a plaque and lapel pin, as well as legislative commendations for their achievements. The awards and prizes are sponsored by the Associated Students.

In addition, seven Educators of Distinction were nominated by students and selected to be honored.

Student Life and the Broadcast Services Department created a virtual ceremony to honor these extraordinary students and educators. Please find the list of educators and students below the video.

The winners are:

Academic

These students showed outstanding performance in their academic studies

Jamie Chan (Sociology) - Transferring to University of California, Berkeley with a goal to obtain a government position to promote equity in education Carina Matz

Carina Matz (Psychology) - Transferring to Arizona State University with a goal to become a criminal behaviorist

Mohammed Mortada (Political Science) - Transfer school is To Be Determined (TBD), with a goal to become an attorney for the United Nations

Stephanie Widjaja (Biological Sciences) - Transferring to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with a goal to become a medical oncologist

Gini A. Martinez (Psychology) - Transfer school is TBD with a goal to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant

Brian Ng (Psychology) - Transferring to UCLA with a goal to pursue a job in Counseling and Clinical Psychology

Service

These students have performed significant service to the College and/or community through activities related to a recognized Mt. SAC club or organization

Bethany Sesti (Biology) – Transferring to University of California, Riverside (UCR) with a goal to become a research scientist, studying the cellular and molecular processes of microorganisms Paola Marian Benitez

Paola Mariana Benitez (Sociology) – Transfer school is TBD with a goal to become a Higher Education counselor at a community college

Arianna Murguia (Spanish, Community and Culture) – Transferring to UCLA with a goal to become a community college counselor

Jesus Garcia-Torres Jesús García-Torres (Political Science) – Transfer school is TBD with a goal to become a Civil Rights Attorney

Alejandro Andas (Business Administration/Economics) – Transferring to University of California, Berkeley with a goal to become a venture capitalist that invests in green and eco-friendly companies

Competitive

These students have exhibited outstanding individual performance through competitions on behalf of Mt. SAC

Quinn Reese De Avila (Nursing) – Transfer school is TBD with a goal to become a pediatric oncology nurse at the City of Hope

Sebastian Carcano (Psychology) – Transfer school is TBD with a goal to pursue a career in Behavioral Neuroscience in animals or Industrial Organizational Psychology.

Personal

These students have persevered and overcome severe hardships and challenges

Daniel Hurt (Ornamental Horticulture) – Transferring to California Polytechnic University, Pomona (CalPoly) with a goal to work for the UC Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources in programs that reduce hunger and food scarcity Alicia Barrera-Trujillo

Alicia Barrera-Trujillo (Sociology) – Transferring to CalPoly with a goal to become a high school adviser

Pedro Mariano Gonzalez (Chicanx Studies) – Transfer school is TBD with a goal to teach Ethnic Studies in K-12 and Community College

Carolina Ponce (Business Administration & Accounting) – Transferring to UCLA with a goal to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Juanito Perez (Communicative Disorders) – Transferring to California State University, Fullerton with a goal to become a Speech Pathologist

Guadalupe Sanchez (Sociology) – Transferring to University of California, Berkeley with a goal to become a career and educational counselor at a community college

Patricia Ann Nunez (Sociology) – Transferring to Pitzer College with a goal to work with incarcerated women and assist with the creation of new programs that will serve as alternatives to incarceration